Urgent warning for those living near Northern Ireland border

A timely warning has been issued today for people who live near the border with Northern Ireland, or who may be venturing north on Sunday, that the UK Government will test its ‘Emergency Alerts’ text service across the UK, including Northern Ireland that Sunday afternoon.

The loud vibration and audio may startle unsuspecting mobile phone users but it is not intended to cause panic.

The text will buzz to life on phones across the UK and Northern Ireland at 3pm (Sunday 7th Sept) and will cause all mobile phones across the UK, to vibrate for up to 10 seconds, and will then be followed by a loud audio alert.

You are advised that this message looks and sounds very different from other types of messages, such as texts or SMS.

The alert will be received even if your mobile phone is set to ‘silent’ or ‘do not disturb’. Devices do not need to be connected to WiFi or mobile data to get the alert. 

There is no cause for concern, and no action is needed.

As happened during the April 2023 test of the system, people living in, or visiting, the border counties may receive a message on their phone or mobile device, followed by an audio alert and a vibration of up to ten seconds.

This service enables the UK Government to send a message to all mobile devices to warn of a life-threatening emergency nearby, for example, extreme weather, severe flooding, or a fire. This service aims to provide clear information to help keep people safe. 

However the UK Government has also advised that vulnerable people, including victims of human trafficking and domestic abuse, who may carry hidden phones for personal safety reasons, and who would prefer if their phone did not sound, to turn their phone off or switch it to airplane mode. 

For further information, please visit www.gov.ie/alerts.